Football: Stoke profit from Keen's capability
Stoke City 2 Port Vale 1
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Kevin Keen was the inspiration for Stoke as the home side won the pulsating first Potteries derby at their new Britannia Stadium yesterday.
Stoke put Vale under pressure from the start and took the lead in the fifth minute, with Keen finding space on the right flank and delivering a pin-point cross to Richard Forsyth, who headed home from close range.
Vale's first serious attack saw them back on level terms with a fine goal in the 21st minute. Rogier Koordes escaped the attentions of Ally Pickering to deliver a quality cross and Tony Naylor netted a flying header from 15 yards.
Vale's confidence rose visibly after their goal but Stoke soon regained the lead after a quick break out of defence in the 34th minute. Graham Kavanagh sprinted with the ball for all of 60 yards before finding Keen, who placed a low shot inside Musselwhite's right-hand post.
There was no let-up in the high-paced contest and Vale twice came within inches of a second equaliser in first-half stoppage time. Gareth Ainsworth's header was touched against the bar by Carl Muggleton and City's Steve Tweed appeared to handle on the blind side of the referee in the melee which followed. The scramble resulted in a corner from which Ainsworth pounced at the far post with a shot but this time it was blocked on the line.
Goals: Forsyth (5) 1-0; Naylor (21) 1-1; Keen (34) 2-1.
Stoke City: Muggleton; Pickering, Griffin, Sigurdsson, Tweed, Keen, Forsyth, Wallace, Thorne, Andrade (Crowe, 86), Kavanagh. Substitutes not used: Mackenzie, Whittle.
Port Vale: Musselwhite; Hill (Bogie, 86), Tankard, Talbot, Aspin, Snijders, Ainsworth, Porter, Mills (Foyle, 76), Naylor, Koordes (Corden, 86).
Referee: C R Wilkes (Gloucester).
Bookings: Stoke: Sigurdsson, Kavanagh, Crowe. Port Vale: Ainsworth, Naylor.
Man of the match: Keen. Attendance: 20,125.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments